Paris introduces lottery for graves near famous artists

Pere Lachaise, which has become popular among tourists, is the burial place of many famous figures, including singer Edith Piaf

sarah

Nov 4, 2025 - 20:36

Paris introduces lottery for graves near famous artists

Parisians are being offered the chance to be buried alongside some of history's most famous artists, such as Jim Morrison of The Doors, writer Oscar Wilde, and the renowned French singer Edith Piaf.

The city of Paris has launched a lottery to renovate burial plots in the crowded cemeteries of Père-Lachaise, Montparnasse, and Montmartre.

Ten graves in need of repair in each cemetery are being offered for €4,000 (£3,500), on the condition that the buyer renovates them and also purchases a burial plot next to them.

The Paris Council said the scheme is a "compromise" between respecting the dead and giving residents the opportunity to be buried within the city.

The council added that there are very few burial plots left in cemeteries within the city limits, as they have been almost full since the beginning of the 20th century.

The maintenance of graves and monuments in Parisian cemeteries is the responsibility of families – not the city. Therefore, some graves can become neglected and dilapidated over time. But removing dilapidated monuments can be difficult because the cemeteries are classified as protected heritage sites.

The city hopes that this new program, which was unanimously approved by the council in April, will help renovate monuments within the famous cemeteries.

These cemeteries have also become popular tourist destinations because of the people buried there.

In addition to Morrison, Piaf, and Wilde, French novelist Marcel Proust and Polish composer Frédéric Chopin are buried in Père Lachaise. Authors Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, Samuel Beckett, and singer Serge Gainsbourg are buried in Montparnasse, while actress Jane Birkin's ashes are also interred there.

Painter Edgar Degas, writer Émile Zola, and French New Wave director François Truffaut are buried in Montmartre.

There is no indication that any of these monuments are available under this scheme.

The 30 plots available, many of which no longer have legible inscriptions, date from the 19th century.

Applications are only open to those currently residing in Paris. The council said that after seeing such interest, it decided to run the scheme as a lottery. The draw will take place in January. But those who win a plot in one of the historic cemeteries may face a hefty price.

According to the terms and conditions, they must restore the purchased monument within six months, and the new design must be "identical to the original."

They must also arrange for a burial plot nearby within the specified timeframe. If any of these conditions are not met, the sale will be canceled, and the buyers' money will be forfeited.

Plots are leased for a fixed period or in perpetuity. The description sheets for the available monuments show that buyers will have to pay €976 for a 10-year lease on a burial plot, €3,354 for 30 years, or €5,260 for 50 years.

If the lease expires without renewal, the plot can be resold and reused.

The price for perpetual ownership is €17,668.